Best Buy apparently has Apple's blessing to slash $50 off the price of the 32GB black and white versions of the iPad 3 (now $550) and the 64GB black version of it (now $650). This deal is good only on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

The catch, of course, is that Apple recently surprised the market by introducing the iPad 4 (or new iPad) with a processor that's twice as fast as the one in the iPad 3. As a result, Apple is phasing out iPad 3, a solid product with a Retina Display that was rolled out earlier this year.

Meanwhile, as this writer warns, you're best off buying Apple products this holiday season, or whenever really, from either Apple or authorized retailers only. Amazon, for instance, is a minefield of phony Apple products, such as iPad covers.

Bob Brown is a news editor for Network World, blogs about network research, and works most closely with our staff's wireless/mobile reporters. Follow him on Twitter at Alphadoggs and connect via email at bbrown@nww.com